Track and field: Sailors open strong

RANCHO SANTA MARGARITA - The Newport Harbor High boys and girls

track teams opened the 2001 season on the run, so to speak, battling both

Santa Margarita and Mater Dei Friday afternoon.

The team results were not available, but there were numerous Sailors

leading the pack in various events.

On the girls’ side, sophomore Amy Burlingham fresh off her stint with

the girls soccer team, won both the 100- and 200-meter runs. She won the

100 with a time of 12.4 and the 200 with a 25.9.

Sailors’ senior standout Amber Steen, last year’s CIF Southern Section

Division II champion in the 1,600, won both the 800 (2:18.0) and 1,600

(5:05.1).

Freshman Lauren Paul kicked off her NH track and field career with a

second-place effort in the 3,200 with a time of 12:54.

Valerie Day and Evita Castillo each placed second in two events, while

Kristen McClune and Emily Turner placed second and third, respectively,

in the high jump.

“Today, we showed that we have the makings of a pretty solid track

team,” Newport girls Coach Eric Tweit said.

On the boys’ side, the Sailors had multiple winners.

David Marshall (discus, 137-0) and Morgan Curtis (triple jump, 41-2

1/2) each won their events, while John Peschelt (high jump, 6-4) and

David Springer (20-5 1/2) each placed second.

Chris McMillen won both the 1,600 (4:36.0) and the 3,200 (10:10.0),

while Peschelt captured the 800 (1:59.7).

Dede Johnson was strong in the 200, winning the event with a time of

23.7. Dan Moyer was second in both the 110 high hurdles and the 300

intermediate hurdles.

“With the weather and ski week, we’re behind from where we usually are

this time of the year,” Newport boys Coach Bim Barry said. “Today was a

great chance to get everyone on the track and I was happy with the team’s

competitiveness.”

The Sailors compete at crosstown-rival Corona del Mar Wednesday at 3

p.m.